Energy is the lifeblood of the economy and government needs to be less restrictive with its regulations.

That was the message of former U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and Tom Ridge, a former Republican governor of Pennsylvania and the first secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as well as Sean Hannity, a conservative political commentator and host of "The Sean Hannity Show," a nationally syndicated talk radio show.

They were the featured speakers Thursday, the final day of the annual Shale Insight conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. Gov. Tom Corbett, who is running for re-election, also spoke at the conference. He said he remains “bullish” on the proposed $2.5 billion Shell Chemicals refinery in Potter Township.

Thousands of protesters against fossil fuels—and fracking in particular—took over New York streets this week, while major businesses and investors announced divestments from fossil fuels in tandem with the United Nations Climate Summit. Still, commodities analysts gathered in Manhattan, as well as shale industry officials, continue to predict a rosy future for natural gas development.

As natural gas production continues to spread across the country, some citizens are trying to fend off drilling rigs and waste sites in their backyards. While gas companies say they already face tough state regulations, that oversight doesn’t always ease residents’ fears. As Ohio quickly becomes a go-to destination for the nation's fracking waste, some people worry about earthquakes and water contamination, and argue the state has taken away their authority to decide whether oil and gas waste should be allowed.

Anybody who grew up in Western Pennsylvania, worked in a mill or rooted for a football team called the “Steelers” might find it hard to believe, but there are more people in Pennsylvania working in the oil and gas industry than there are in the steel industry.

There were 20,999 people employed in the oil and gas industries in Pennsylvania in 2013 while employment in iron and steel mills and ferroalloy manufacturing totaled 13,489, according to the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis, a branch of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

An amendment to the state’s Sunshine Act that would require public bodies to post agendas a day in advance of meetings gained steam Tuesday with a key House committee chairman saying it has bipartisan support and will “move forward” in the Legislature.

“I think it’s just common sense,” said state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12, Cranberry Township. “You would think this is already in place.”